Tiberio's Pizza to return with new ownership group

Jeff Barron, Lancaster Eagle-Gazette
·2 min read

LANCASTER − Those who long for the return of a local tradition should soon be happy. Several local business owners have joined forces to bring back Tiberio's Pizza. The new location will be the former Trader's Cafe location at 416 N. Columbus St.

Bob's Backyard BBQ owners Bob and Maggie Bennett have partnered with the Doghouse Tavern owners Gary and Carey Smeck and David Foraker and will operate the business. They purchased the business along with all the rights and recipes. The previous owners of Tiberio's, Woody and Luciana Schorr, retired and closed the business in April.

Bob and Maggie Bennett (left) stand with other new and previous owners of Tiberio's Pizza outside of the new location on Columbus Rd. on Dec. 5, 2022 in Lancaster, Ohio.
Bob and Maggie Bennett (left) stand with other new and previous owners of Tiberio's Pizza outside of the new location on Columbus Rd. on Dec. 5, 2022 in Lancaster, Ohio.

"We had approached them, along with other people, to purchase the rights and recipes and worked out a deal with the owners of the Doghouse Tavern to also be a partnership," Maggie Bennett said. "So we own that together. We don't own part of the Doghouse, nor do they own part of Bob's. This is a totally separate thing."

Bob Bennett said there is no date yet set for the opening but wants to open as soon as possible. Building renovations are underway and the building will also have a meeting room for businesses or parties and the like.

As for the menu, Maggie Bennett said it will feature Teberio favorites like pizza, stromboli, subs and salads to start.

"And as we tend to get our feet under us we'll try to expand the menu from there," she said.

Tiberio's was on Main Street for a while before moving to a gas station at 2610 N. Columbus St. Another pizza business, King's Grand Central, replaced Tiberio's there earlier this year.

The Bennetts said the original location was actually at the current Doghouse location at 701 Reese Ave.

"Tiberio's has always been one of our very favorite pizzas in Lancaster," Bob Bennett said. "We hated to see it close and we wanted to keep that tradition going."

Bob and Maggie Bennett, the new of Tiberio's Pizza, stand outside of the new location on Columbus Rd. on Dec. 5, 2022 in Lancaster, Ohio.
Bob and Maggie Bennett, the new of Tiberio's Pizza, stand outside of the new location on Columbus Rd. on Dec. 5, 2022 in Lancaster, Ohio.

Maggie Bennett said Tiberio's ownership operated similar to the Bennetts as far as being community minded and family oriented.

"And with actual scratch-made products," she said. "Not processed. So we felt like for us it was a really good fit for the way we operate our current business, too."

The Bennetts also plan to expand their barbeque business into Pickerington by opening a location at 80 W. Church St. Maggie Bennett said that opening is still a few months away, though.

jbarron@gannett.com740-681-4340Twitter: @JeffDBarron

This article originally appeared on Lancaster Eagle-Gazette: Tiberio's Pizza to return with new ownership group